1910-14. 



THE years 1910-14 witnessed a new growth in British 

 agriculture. Farmers were doing better than they had 

 ever done since 1870. Managers of provincial Banks not- 

 iced a distinct improvement in farmers' accounts. 1 But 

 the labourers did not share in this slowly rising tide of agri- 

 cultural prosperity. Once more the Liberal Party was 

 returned to power, but since the last General Election the 

 cost of living had risen about 10 per cent., 2 whilst wages 

 had remained stationary. The labourers were still living 

 upon political promises. Their hopes began to centre 

 round the little man who had come from the Welsh moun- 

 tains to be their David. At the sound of his carter's whip, 

 thoroughbreds had taken fright and with ears laid back and 

 lips drawn they had scampered to their fat paddocks, 

 pawing the earth with irritation ; and many a man who 

 had been bold enough in rural districts to exhibit posters in 

 favour of Liberal candidates was served with notice to quit. 3 

 These were the days before the Labour Party attempted 

 to win rural constituencies ; yet as we shall see, farm 



1 The statistics of bankruptcies amongst fanners are illuminating. 



Years Annual Average Number 



1892-1898 . . . . . . . . 453 



1899-1905 315 



1906-1912 ........ 299 



I9I3-I9I8 137 



(Minority Report Royal Commission on Agriculture 1919.) 

 * Cd. 7733. 



3 Vide Lord Lucas' reply to Lord Wilioughby de Broke's question, 

 "whether they can produce any instances of tenant-farmers or agricul- 

 tural labourers who have been. evicted on account of their having voted 

 for Liberal candidates for Parliament," in the House of Lords, February 

 24, 1914- 



VOL. II. 177 N 



